Iowa health-care groups form new center for liver disease

Friday, February 1, 2013 2:45 PM

Three Iowa health-care groups have formed a new organization to care for patients with liver disease -- the Iowa Liver Center. The new organization will offer diagnostic, treatment and support services to those with liver disease.

The Iowa Liver Center is a collaboration among the University of Iowa Organ Transplant Center, based in Iowa City, the Iowa Digestive Disease Center, based in Clive, and Mercy Medical Center - Des Moines.

"Bringing together the leading digestive disease physicians, transplant surgeons and other professionals from Iowa's three leading organizations in this field allows us to create a streamlined and well-defined process of care,"said Dr. Alan Reed, professor and chief of transplant and hepatobiliary surgery at University of Iowa Health Care. "Coordinating care and sharing clinical data will result in higher quality and efficiency."

The new center is one of the first collaborations of the University of Iowa Health Alliance, which provides a structure and a formal relationship among Mercy, UI Health Care and others to improve quality, enhance care and lower costs.

The Iowa Liver Center will also offer shared programs, seminars and other continuing education opportunities, such as certification programs, related to liver disease for specialists and primary care physicians.